Meter-case.



F. W. ANDREW.

METER CASEx APPucATloN FILED acts, 1910 1 1 58,768. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. if 7. @zy/6.

F. W. NDREW.

METER CASE. APPL'CAUN FLED OCT. 8| 1910. 1,158,768. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-HEBT 2 4 i I l C; :MVVNTUR AT'TORNEY STATES PATNT (mirror.i

FREDERICK W. ANDREW, OF 'WIIiKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGQ- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF :PENNSYL- VANIA.

v METER-CASE.

f 1,1 58,768. Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-Qd NOV, 2, 1915,

`\ I Application led October 1910. Serial N o. 586.083,. i

To Il whom, 'ift lmay concern. v

' Meter-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to boxes or cases and it-has specialfreference. to such .devices as are adapted tocontain the operating mechanismsof various classes cimeters or other instruments. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a case of the above-indicated class which shall be simple,rdurable and light in structure, aswell as dust-proof andfincxlwnsivc,

and which shallembody means for securing the body portion to the base without sacrific- .iug unnecessary space in the interior of the According to my invention, I provide a meter case which preferably comprises a plurality of separate side pieces`having en# larged mitered end portions secured together by a welding or brazing process to form, an integral body frame having relatively thick corner portions. Such y a frame could, of course. be cast as a. single unit, but considerable ditliculty and expense would be involved which might render it impracticable as a commercial product, whereas the individual side pieces may be cast separately with little diiliculty, and may be' blazed together at comparatively little, expense.

The method of attachingthe body frame' toy the base is particularly econoi'nical ot' space, as the bolts'are located in the extreme corners and are fastened to the enlarged corner portions or bosses by cap nuts, which are removable from the top of the case.

.thereby greatly facilitating the operation of removing the case, when adjustments or repairs are necessary. Furthermore, with this type of construction, an exceptionally satisfactorycase, having glass sides and cover, may be provided, as the component pieces may be readily cast to receive glass plates which may be set therein in such manner as to provide absolutely dust-proof joints, a feature of prime importa-nce in meter case construction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View, partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section, of a meter case constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partiallyin plan and partially in horizontal section. of the metci-case shown in Fig. l'. Fig. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in vertical section, of'a modified construction of the case shown in Fig. l, and Fig. et is a. view, partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, of the meter case shown in Fig. 3. Referring to the accompanying drawings, a case or box 1 comprises a multi-sided body frame 2 Which'is suitably"secured to a base plate 3 and is provided with acover 4.

The body frame comprises a plurality of separate side pieces 5 which are mitered at their ends and are intimately secured together vby a r brazing or weldingr process. 'Each side piece 51s provided with' an ,en-

larged portion 6 at each end, said portions being of materially less height than ithe side piece itself. The correspondingly located enlarged portions ot adjacent side pieces 5 abut against each other to form bosses 7 in the cxtreme corners of the case, for thc purpose of mounting, as will be horeinatcr described.

The cover 4 and the side pieces 5 are of. l.skeleton structure 1nd each isrprovidcd, on

its inner side, with a recess S to receive the edge of a glass plate t) which is disposed therein and secured in position by means of clips 10 and screws l1. Dust-proof joints are obtained by setting the glass plates in putty 1'2, or any other suitable plrA ;tic ma-V terial for accomplishing the same purpose.

j The body frame 2 is secured to the base plate 3 by means of bolts 1l which are fastened rigidly to thc base plate it its corners by pins 15. The upper ends of the bolts 14 project through openings 16 into enlarged recesses 1G in the bosses 7 to receive cap nuts 17 and thus vsecure the body frame 2 to the base plate Referring particularly to the meter case shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the lower ends of bolt-s l-l project throughthe. base plate 3 and are secured to an insulating plate or panel 1S by means 4 is siviing back upon its hinges, it is Vpossible to 'remove the body frame 2 and .cover 4 from the base plate 3 as a unit without dewith the body frame itself, if desired.

Reference may nowbe had to Figs. 3 and 4, in which a meter case, of similar construction to that shown in Figs. l and 2 is illustrated, similar parts bearing lik-e reference numerals.

It will be observed that the cover 4 is secured tothe body frame 2 by screws 24, andop'enings 25r are provided in the corners of the cover to register with recesses 16* in` .the bosses 7, for the purpose of receiving the cap nuts 17. Cement 26, or other siiitable material, is disposed in the openings25, above the cap nuts 17, in order to seal the -cover to the rbody flame and exclude the dust.

The bosses 7 are located at the extreme upper edge of the body frame, and the bolts 14, which secure said body frame to the base plate 3, terminate therein, and bolts 27 are provided for the purpose of attaching the base plate 3 to the insulating panel 1,8.

Although I have shown a meter case if specific construction, those skilled in the art 'will readily understand that various modi. .hi-,ations in size, and in the arrangement and location of parts. may be effected without departing from the spirit of 'my invention', and I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in'n the appended claims.

I claim as my'invention.:

1. The combination with a supporting panel, of a box or case. comprising a plurality of side pieces secured intimately together to constitute a single unit, internal integral corner bosses of less height than the side pieces, a base. aiul bolts which engage said bosses aiid terminate within the said box for securing the side pieces to the saidbase and tothe support-ing panel.

2. lThe combination with a.supporting panel, of a base, a, box comprising a bod)1 iframe having materially enlarged internal and integral corner portions of less height than thebody fiaiiie, :ind means for coperating with the. corner portions for removably attaching the body to the base and the base to the panel.

3. The combination with a supporting panel, of an instrument case comprising a plu `ality of -side pieces secured intimately together at their ends and havingenlarged integral internal portions, a base plate, and members for securing the enlarged portions to the base plate. and the base plate to the panel, said members comprising clamping devices that terminate within the said case and are accessible fromnthe front of the inthe panel and the case toa the base plate.

5. The combination with a supporting panel, of an instrument case. a base plate, and means accessible from the front of the instrument case for detachably securing the said base plate to the, panel and the case to the base plate.

'(3. The cpmbination with a supporting panel, a base plate and a rectangular frame having integral inwardly projecting corner lugs, of bolts rigidly secured to said base plate intermediate` their ends, one en d of said bolts cooperating with said corner lugs for securing said frame to said base and the other ends cooperating with said supporting panel for, attaching said Abase thereto.

7.. The combination with a supporting panel, a base pla'te, and rectangular frame having integral inwardly projecting coi'ner5 lugs, of bolts rigidly-,secured to said=base plate intermediate their ends, for attaching said Abase to saidpanel and means disposed within said frame and coi'iperating with said V-eorner lugs and said bolts for indepentpleiitly and detachably securing said frame t said bascf' i 8. The combination with a supporting panel, a base plate and a rectangular frame hating integral inwardly projecting corner lugs, of bolts rigidly secured to said hase and co'iperating with said corner lugs for detacliably securing said frame to said base,

and other bolts for independently attaching 

